For some, being a full-time mom is an absolute blessing because they can’t stand the thought of being away from their little ones. That said, some new moms find the experience quite frustrating which can lead to burnout. Here is how to overcome mom burnout if you find yourself struggling.
So if you are showing signs of mom burnout, you definitely need to seek out professional help, not doing so can have a very negative effect on you and your baby.
Motherhood is an amazing gift and it hurts to know that some moms aren’t able to enjoy it. Continue reading to find out how you can kick this imposter in the bud and start enjoying life as a mom today!
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So What Is Mom Burnout
There are five stages of mom burnout but in short, mom burnout is when you feel exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally.
When going through mom burnout, a lot of women share the feeling of disengagement, it’s like you are there physically but mentally elsewhere.
You stop being able to cope with your daily routine and mothering starts feeling more like a burden instead of a gift (which is what it is).
Mommy burnout is real, and more common than you may think, fortunately though, taking the right steps and seeking help can make you better in no time!
What Are The Signs Of Mom Burnout
There are many signs and symptoms of mom burnout but here are some of the most common ones:
- You feel depressed and stressed often
- You feel exhausted all the time and your energy levels are just soo low!
- You are easily tempered or irritated and even the smallest things trigger you.
- You feel guilty or not good enough of a mom
- You are experiencing anxiety more often
- You feel anxious even when there’s no need to be
- You are not taking care of yourself anymore
- Decreased creativity
- You have trouble concentrating
- You suddenly always want to be alone
- You feel disconnected from everyone around you
- You are having feelings of regret
- All you want to do is give up
How To Overcome Mom Burnout
So it doesn’t matter if you are a full-time mom or a working mom, every mom needs a break at some point. Spreading yourself too thin and not taking care of yourself can and will get you to a breaking point.
By following the tips below, I truly believe you can overcome & even prevent mommy burnout.
1. Accept Your Feelings
Similar to rehab, to overcome mom burnout, you must first accept your feelings and admit to yourself and your loved ones that you are exhausted.
You see, without recognizing that you have a problem, you won’t be able to fix it, it’s that simple.
I know you want to be there for your kids, but in order to really be there, you have to take care of yourself first.
How can you possibly be the best that you can be for someone else when you are actually suffering right?
2. Identify The Cause
Now that you’ve accepted that you have a problem, your next step is to actually list them all down. Once you do, it’s easy to decide which ones to delegate. Here are a few common causes of mom burnout:
- You are not getting enough sleep
- You are not eating the right foods
- You are not taking time out for self-care
- You are not socializing
- You are doing all the chores
- You have a special needs child
- You have to work from home along with mothering
- Your partner demands a lot
- You are home-schooling your kids
- Your kids are hyperactive and they need extra care
- It’s all on you alone
3. Share Your Feelings
Your third step to recovery is actually admitting that you have a problem with your partner, friends, and family. I know you don’t want others to think that you aren’t able to care for your kids but the truth is, you need help!
So if your loved ones don’t know you have a problem, how can they help right?
Now if you’re anything like me, it’s gonna be really hard sharing your feelings but I guess sometimes in life, you have to do things that make you uncomfortable.
4. Asking For Or Seeking Help
So this is really the hardest part of it all, you need to ask for help! You need to ask your husband, partner, and family to help you out.
You and your hubby can take turns with the kids, your mom could come over and stay for a while or maybe you could go over for a week or two.
However, if you can afford it financially, you could get a nanny, put your kids in daycare, or pay for a cleaning service.
That will really take a whole lot of weight off your shoulders. You could even get healthy meals delivered to your home daily to reduce the stress of having to cook.
5. Don’t Try To Be Perfect
One of the reasons that make motherhood challenging for most moms is trying to be perfect at parenting! You definitely won’t want to try and be a perfect parent!
The only thing that’s gonna happen when you try to be is an increase in your stress levels. We all want to be supermoms but you will realize sooner or later that it’s just not possible!
Set boundaries for yourself, only do what you feel comfortable doing. Learn to say Enough! Remember that nothing is perfect and your mental health is very important for the happiness of your kids.
6. Get Some Sleep
Did you know that sleep deficiency is one of the leading causes of mom burnout symptoms? Yes, research shows that not getting enough sleep can lead to high cortisol levels (stress hormone).
High cortisol can lead to depression, brain fog, anger issues, anxiety, irritability and so much more. That’s why it’s very important to get as much sleep as possible. Start by taking a nap during the day if you have a young baby.
Or have your partner drop your baby off at daycare while you sleep in late, or also, you could get a babysitter to come in before your hubby goes off to work.
7. Check Your Hormones
So it’s no secret that postpartum depression could also be causing your mommy burnout that’s why I highly recommend you get your hormones checked.
You see, it’s very common to have an imbalance of estrogen and progesterone in us women for up to six months after having a baby.
If a drop in estrogen is what’s causing your symptoms, your doctor could put you on antidepressants or hormone therapy (which can be used for new moms).
8. Take A Day Off
I know, being a mom requires 24 hours, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year of your time. It is the most demanding job on the planet so how can you take a day off right?
Well, as much as momming is important, your mental health and happiness are more important!
There, I said it! You have to make time for yourself! You need to take a day off every week and do something nice for a change!
You could go shopping, do your hair, or even get your nails done. If you don’t, you will just keep drowning, trust me, I’ve been there.
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9. Start A New Hobby
So I used to be all alone here in Lebanon while my husband worked overseas, I had 3 kids with no family and a lot of financial issues!
The only thing that kept me going was learning how to do new things online. That’s how I learned about blogging, YouTubing, and sewing, plus, found tons of books to read.
Now I know that you are just too busy to start new endeavors but trust me when you start doing stuff that makes you happy, it takes your mind off whatever is going on in your life.
It also reduces your stress levels and helps you live in a moment of “not being a mom” for one hot second.
You can try reading, sewing, singing, writing, crafting, crocheting, baking and the list goes on.
My point is, find something you enjoy doing and set aside a little You Time every day and just enjoy!
10. Set Time For Outdoors
When I had my baby less than 3 years ago, I gained a lot of weight and was diagnosed with prediabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. I went to a nutritionist and got put on a diet plan which worked wonders.
Also, I was told to take 1-hour walks every day and that didn’t just help me lose weight, it had a huge impact on my mood! You see walking and breathing in fresh air is an amazing way to uplift and relieve stress naturally.
Making time for long walks in the evenings with your little ones will definitely cheer you up, and release happy hormones into your blood. Even science shows that walking increases endorphins so try it!
11. Join Online Communities
Did you know that there are tons of online communities and Facebook groups for moms to come together and vent? You will be surprised to find that these groups are filled with women who are going through exactly what you are!
Sharing your experiences and struggles with like-minded moms can be very therapeutic and enlightening.
You can ask questions and get answers in these groups, find resources for moms that you never knew were available, and even make new friends in your area and help each other out!
Conclusion
So there you go, all the tips you need to help you overcome mom burnout. I really hope you try some of them and wish you all the best on your journey! Until next time, stay healthy mama! Make sure to follow me on Pinterest for more awesome tips.
